title: Elevated expression of Tim-3 on CD8 T cells correlates with disease severity of pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (Tim-3) plays an important role in regulating T cell responses and induction of peripheral tolerance. In this study, the association of Tim-3 with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tim-3 expression on CD8 T cells and its influence on production of effector molecules and proliferation of CD8 T cells were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pulmonary TB patients had significantly elevated Tim-3 expression on total CD8 T cells (P < 0.0001) and on antigen-specific CD8 T cells (P = 0.0028) compared with tuberculin-positive healthy controls. The expression of Tim-3 on CD8 T cells was significantly higher in smear/culture-positive TB patients than smear/culture-negative TB patients (P < 0.0001). Tim-3 expressing CD8 T cells had reduced production of IFN-γ, decreased degranulation and lower proliferation in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen stimulation. Blocking of Tim-3 signaling led to significantly increased production of IFN-γ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The elevated expression of Tim-3 on CD8 T cells correlates with functional defects of CD8 T cells and disease severity of pulmonary TB.
authors.affiliation: Division of Research, Institute of Tuberculosis, 309 Hospital, 17 Hei Shan Hu Road, Haidian, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: Xinjing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yanfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ostrowski
authors.forename: Xiaoxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C448908:HAVCR2 protein, human; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D008565:Membrane Proteins